MLB Grind Down: Monday, July 28th Page Two
Colorado at Chicago Cubs
| Colorado | Chicago Cubs | ||||||||
| Yohan Flande | Vegas Moneyline | Tsuyoshi Wada | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| LEFT | CHC (-140) | LEFT | 7.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.300 | 0.773 | 0.330 | 9.1% | SP vs. Left | 0.250 | 0.500 | 0.222 | 0.0% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.375 | 0.947 | 0.418 | 11.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.286 | 0.690 | 0.308 | 20.0% |
| Batter Splits | COL BvP  | COL vs L | Batter Splits | CHC BvP | CHC vs L | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Yohan Flande – This will be a battle between two subpar lefties tonight, but the wind is blowing in at Wrigley and the total is set at only 7.5 runs. Even with a low total, Flande is not a recommended fantasy option. The Cubs are ranked 4th in wOBA vs. LH pitching (.335) and Flande has given up a .393 wOBA to RH hitters this season. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5000 FD, $7700 DD, $4800 DK, $58000 FF, $13000 SS, $7700 FTD
- Tsuyoshi Wada – Wada is a 33 year-old rookie that will be making his 3rd career start. He can safely be avoided in all formats as the Rockies are ranked 2nd in wOBA vs. LH pitching this season. Rating = 4
Salaries: $5400 FD, $ DD, $5500 DK, $ FF, $ SS, $ FTD
Batter Grind Down
Colorado
Drew Stubbs – Even though the wind is blowing in tonight, I really like Stubbs tonight. He owns a .436 wOBA vs. LH pitching this season and is facing an inexperienced pitcher in Wada.
Additional Plays: Wilin Rosario
Chicago Cubs
Starlin Castro – Castro has a great matchup against Flande. As mentioned above, Flande has given up a .393 wOBA to RH hitters this season and Castro is sporting a .361 wOBA vs. southpaws.
*Additional Plays:*Emilio Bonifacio, Anthony Rizzo
NY Yankees at Texas
| NY Yankees | Texas | ||||||||
| David Phelps | Vegas Moneyline | Yu Darvish | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | TEX (-140) | RIGHT | 8.0 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.239 | 0.709 | 0.322 | 22.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.227 | 0.674 | 0.304 | 29.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.281 | 0.749 | 0.341 | 18.0% | SP vs. Right | 0.179 | 0.533 | 0.246 | 36.0% |
| Batter Splits | NYY BvP | NYY vs R | Batter Splits | TEX BvP | TEX vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- David Phelps – Phelps is really starting to figure out how to be a starter. In the month of July, he’s posted a 2.22 ERA and he’s struck out 18 batters over 24 innings of work. He threw 5 strong innings against the Rangers in his last start, but will have to face them in Arlington this time around. Not only that, but run support will be hard to come by with Darvish on the mound for the Rangers. Rating = 5
Salaries: $6300 FD, $NA DS, $10950 DD, $5900 DK, $84600 FF, $15300 SS, $10500 FTD
- Yu Darvish – Darvish is the #1 pitcher on the board tonight. He has a 2.92 ERA on the season with a K/9 of 11.3. He’s arguably the best strikeout pitcher in baseball and this Yankees’ offense is not what it has been in year’s past. Darvish has had no problem pitching in the hitter-friendly Globe Life Park and should be targeted in all league formats. Rating = 9
Salaries: $11000 FD, $ DS, $20350 DD, $11800 DK, $113600 FF, $28800 SS, $21000 FTD
Batter Grind Down
NY Yankees
Avoid all Yankees’ hitters tonight against Yu Darvish.
Texas
Adrian Beltre – Phelps has had some serious reverse splits over the last 2 seasons. He’s given up a .341 wOBA to RH hitters. Beltre meanwhile, has hit RH pitching well with a .381 wOBA. He’s a top option at 3B if you can manage to fit him in your lineups.
Additional Plays: Alex Rios, Leonys Martin
Oakland at Houston
| Oakland | Houston | ||||||||
| Jesse Chavez | Vegas Moneyline | Brett Oberholtzer | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | OAK (-200) | LEFT | 8.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.259 | 0.658 | 0.306 | 19.4% | SP vs. Left | 0.277 | 0.688 | 0.307 | 18.4% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.230 | 0.626 | 0.284 | 25.7% | SP vs. Right | 0.265 | 0.711 | 0.312 | 15.2% |
| Batter Splits | OAK BvP | OAK vs L | Batter Splits | HOU BvP | HOU vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Jesse Chavez – Chavez faced the Astros in his last start and struck out 7 batters over 5 and 2/3 innings of work while giving up 2 earned runs. He’s now faced the Astros 3 times this season and he has a 3.78 ERA against them. Chavez is biggest favorite on the board tonight and is a very affordable option on both FD and DK. He’ll likely be a very popular play tonight and for good reason. Rating = 7
Salaries: $7800 FD, $14200 DD, $7600 DK, $101900 FF, $22600 SS, $13700 FTD
- Brett Oberholtzer – Oberholtzer pitched well in Oakland in his last start and has now given up 2 or fewer runs in 5 of his last 6 starts. He’s trending in the right direction, but is not a recommended fantasy play tonight. Not only are the A’s one of the best offenses in baseball, but they are also one of the most patient offenses in baseball. Plus, he’s a huge underdog and will have a hard time picking up that crucial win. Rating 4
Salaries: $5600 FD, $9150 DD, $5400 DK, $63500 FF, $13200 SS, $9150 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Oakland
Josh Donaldson – Donaldson has mashed LH pitching throughout his career and this season is no different. He has a .456 wOBA vs. southpaws this season and comes into tonight’s game with 10 hits over his last 9 games.
Additional Plays: Yoenis Cespedes, Derek Norris
Houston
Jose Altuve – The AL’s batting leader continues to roll. He has 18 hits over his last 9 games and has 42 stolen bases on the season. It can be hard to pay that much for an Astros’ hitter, but he’s proven time and time again that he’s worth the expensive salary.
Additional Plays: Chris Carter
Pittsburgh at San Francisco
| Pittsburgh | San Francisco | ||||||||
| Vance Worley | Vegas Moneyline | Madison Bumgarner | Vegas Over/Under | ||||||
| RIGHT | SFG (-149) | LEFT | 6.5 | ||||||
| Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% | Stats | Avg | OPS | wOBA | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SP vs. Left | 0.339 | 0.922 | 0.408 | 12.0% | SP vs. Left | 0.200 | 0.530 | 0.239 | 34.6% |
| SP vs. Right | 0.328 | 0.816 | 0.363 | 13.1% | SP vs. Right | 0.233 | 0.639 | 0.293 | 21.8% |
| Batter Splits | PIT BvP | PIT vs L | Batter Splits | SFG BvP | SFG vs R | ||||
| Batter Split Links Above Open In Pop-Up Window | |||||||||
Pitcher Grind Down
- Vance Worley – Worley owns a 3.10 ERA this season, but his xFIP of 3.77 suggests a bit of regression moving forward. He’s not a high strikeout pitcher (averaging less than 6 per 9 innings) and he’ll likely have a shortage of run support with Bumgarner pitching opposite him. The Giants aren’t the most feared offense in baseball, but there are better options on the mound tonight than Worley. Rating = 4.5
Salaries: $5700 FD, $11500 DD, $6900 DK, $50600 FF, $17900 SS, $11500 FTD
- Madison Bumgarner – Despite having a couple of bats that excel vs. LH pitching, the Pirates have really struggled vs. southpaws this season. They are ranked 27th in wOBA vs. lefties. If Bumgarner can limit the damage from McCutchen tonight, he should be in for a terrific outing. He’s averaging one strikeout per inning this season and the Pirates strike out at a 21% clip against lefties. Rating = 8.5
Salaries: $9300 FD, $17750 DD, $9500 DK, $104500 FF, $26000 SS, $17450 FTD
Batter Grind Down
Pittsburgh
Avoid all Pirates tonight against Bumgarner.
San Francisco
Pablo Sandoval – The Panda struggled in March and April, but has really turned things around since then. He owns a .363 wOBA vs. RH pitching this season and most of his power has come from the left side of the plate. I really like the matchup against Worley who hasn’t pitched nearly as well as his ERA suggests.
Additional Plays: Hunter Pence